A Butler Township woman has been charged with animal cruelty after a dead dog was found in her former residence.

Marissa Claypoole, 25, was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals, misdemeanor cruelty to animals and eight other associated summary charges on Monday, Dec. 1.

According to an affidavit, police were contacted Sept. 5 by Eugene Henry, who had previously taken custody of three dogs at 402 Bessemer Ave. after an incident on Sept. 3. He told police he was able to hear more barking from inside the residence.

Police said when property owner Victor Kennedy was contacted for permission to enter the house and retrieve the dogs, Kennedy told police Claypoole was evicted Sept. 3. Kennedy told police he checked on the house on Sept. 4, and saw a dead dog and pieces of fur strewn across the basement.

Police said Henry and the officer on scene removed two Cane Corso mix puppies that appeared malnourished, with one struggling to walk.

Upon searching the basement, the two found black and white fur all over and bones with fur in a corner, according to the affidavit. Fresh food and water was left out for the dogs.

According to the affidavit, police called Claypoole, who said she dropped the dogs off that morning because she had to work. When police asked her about a black-and-white dog, she said she had one, but assumed the police had already taken it, police said.

When informed of the dead dog, she told police she had not been in the basement that day and only went down to care for the dogs, according to the affidavit. She told police she believed the two dogs were not in bad health and that worms were the cause of the malnourished appearance.

According to the affidavit, Claypoole told police her daughter went into the basement to give the dogs food, but never mentioned the dead dog.

Moraine Grove Veterinary Clinic told police the dogs were in reasonably good health but were not cared for well and slightly malnourished, according to the affidavit.

Claypoole’s preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.